North of Normal

Archival Summary & Scope

In the vein of *The Glass Castle* and *Wild*, Cea Sunrise Person’s memoir recounts her extraordinary childhood within a dysfunctional, counter-culture family in the remote Canadian wilderness. Rejecting civilization in the late 1960s, her family—led by her grandfather—lived a primitive, clothing-optional, drug-and-sex-infused existence in a canvas tipi, enduring harsh winters and food shortages without modern amenities. While young Cea initially knew only this world, her teenage mother's search for a partner soon led them on the road. As Cea began to question her highly unusual upbringing, she embarked on a lifelong search for a more conventional life. An international modeling career offered a dramatic escape from the wilderness, only to present its own daunting challenges. Featuring twenty-four intimate family photos, this funny, shocking, and ultimately triumphant tale is a searing story of survival, self-discovery, and strength.